Mr and Mrs Aron Kleinlehrer. John Lamble AO and Suzanne Kelly. MIA Contract Lawyers. Lisa and Doug McKern. Nick and Caro
Contents
Vision Enriching Australia’s cultural life with exceptional opera.
Mission To present opera that excites audiences and sustains and develops the art form.
Corporate Governance Opera Australia is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Its governance is the responsibility of its Board of Directors, who are elected by its Members. The Board is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Company and its ongoing viability. The Company’s direction and activities are underpinned by its agreed Values: • Pursuit of excellence in everything we do • Respect for knowledge, imagination and creative ambition • Honesty and integrity in all our dealings • Fairness • Sustainability • Encouragement of professional development • Respect and compassion for people • Safe working environment
The work of the Board is supported by: Audit Committee - meets before each Board meeting and otherwise as required and is responsible for scrutinising the Company’s management systems, financial processes and the financial prudence of its strategies. The Company’s auditors meet with the Audit Committee on a regular basis and report on their processes and findings.
Vision, Mission, Corporate Governance Chairman's Report Chief Executive's Report Our People Artists - 2015 Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra Report Patron Program Opera Australia Capital Fund - Chairman's Report Opera Australia Activities Opera Australia Salutes its 2015 Partners
2 5 11 22 23 25 28 33 40 45
Development and Government Committee meets as required and provides strategic advice on corporate partnerships, philanthropy and government engagement. Property Advisory Committee - meets as required and makes recommendations to the Board regarding the Company’s property portfolio.
Giacomo Puccini
Remuneration and Nominations Committee - meets as required and is responsible for overseeing the Company’s remuneration policy, including remuneration of the senior management team.
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The Board of Directors of Opera Australia is also the Board of Directors of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of Opera Australia. The Board of Directors delegates to the Chief Executive, and through him to the executive team, authority to manage, within the parameters set by the Board, the Company’s activities.
Photographs Paul Burns, Jeff Busby, Albert Comper, Branco Gaica, Jon Green, Jim Lee, Hamilton Lund, Belinda Strodder, Ben Symons, Lisa Tomasetti, Prudence Upton Cover: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Aida Inside front cover spread: Mazda Opera in the Bowl, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne Inside back cover spread: Mazda Opera in the Domain, Domain, Sydney
Stacey Alleaume with Maxine Buxton (interpreter). Photo by Albert Comper. Jessica Hitchcock as Flinch, Lisa Maza as Roxie, Kate Miller-Heidke as Bird, Hollie Andrew as Coda, David Leha as 3 Stripe and Marcus Corowa as 2 Stripe The Rabbits
David Mortimer AO
In 2014, Opera Australia’s financial year ended with an operating deficit of $2 million. At the time I wrote that this disappointing outcome could not be sustained over time and operating results must be improved significantly in 2015. With this in mind, I am delighted to report that we had an operating surplus of $237,000 to 31 December 2015 and the Opera Australia Capital Fund returned $316,000 resulting in a net consolidated comprehensive income of $553,000. This is considerable turnaround for the Company and a tribute to Craig Hassall’s leadership and Lyndon Terracini’s programming, and the incredibly hard-working and productive workforce of Australia’s largest performing arts company. One of the major successes of 2015 was the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour production of Aida. Presented on a vast stage over the harbour dominated by a towering bust of Nefertiti, singers, dancers, orchestra and live camels, over 57,000 people attended this spectacular event.
Our In-theatre seasons at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne attracted the largest audiences in many years. Expenditure was well controlled throughout the Company, despite a very busy year of activity. Lyndon Terracini has succeeded in his vision of Opera Australia as a 21st-century opera company, balancing the programming of opera classics while remaining fresh and contemporary. 2015 saw two newly commissioned productions in The Rabbits and The Divorce. The production of The Rabbits sold out in the Perth International Arts Festival in February and again sold out in October as part of the Melbourne Festival.
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Income and Expenditure Components 2015 Income CHAIRMAN'S REPORT CONTINUED
74% ($70.2 m) Box office, earned income and contributions 26% ($25.2m) Government grants
Expenditure
57% ($53.6 m) Staff and employment expenses 13% ($12.2 m) Venue, transport and travel costs 19% ($17.5 m) Depreciation, other production and overhead costs 11% ($10.7 m) Marketing and promotion
Along the way, The Rabbits won four Helpmann Awards and clearly demonstrated how a fresh, contemporary voice in opera can appeal to audiences of all ages. In contrast with opera companies around the world, Opera Australia has chosen to diversify its audience offering by using available distribution platforms. In a first for the Company, The Divorce was created for TV and film and was broadcast over four nights in December on ABC free-to-air television. An aggregated audience of more than a million viewers across Australia watched this innovative new work, delivering accessible opera directly into people’s homes. The Rabbits and The Divorce are exciting additions to Opera Australia’s repertoire. In September 2014, Federal AttorneyGeneral George Brandis announced a National Opera Review (NOR), chaired by Dr Helen Nugent. In September, the NOR panel released a discussion paper based on research, discussions and public hearings over the previous 12 months. This paper led to some debate about the role and place of opera companies in Australia. Opera Australia prepared a submission in response to the discussion paper with the aim of clarifying our position and presenting a picture of the place of Opera Australia in contemporary society. The final NOR recommendations were expected late in 2015 although various delays have meant the release will now occur later in 2016.
In 2014, we commenced a property review with the aim of finding ways to release value and to best balance use and maintenance of our properties throughout Australia. In August 2015 we reached an agreement with the owner of the property adjacent to our Melbourne Opera Centre to sell the two properties in one line in order to maximise value for Opera Australia. A condition of the sale was a lease back option so Opera Australia people and operations in Melbourne could continue in situ until alternative accommodation was sourced. The sale of the Melbourne Opera Centre reflects our confidence of our future in Melbourne and will give us an opportunity to purchase or lease new Melbourne premises. We anticipate obtaining better accommodation to cater for full orchestra rehearsals with chorus and soloists as well as providing better space and facilities for patron events. Melbourne will continue to be the home to Opera Australia’s national regional touring and schools tours division and its commercial division.
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CHAIRMAN'S REPORT CONTINUED
Much planning was undertaken in 2015 to manage the impact of the scheduled closure of our Sydney venue – the Joan Sutherland Theatre – for seven months in 2017. In effect, the closure means we cannot present our traditional Sydney Winter season in that year. Artistically, Lyndon has worked to build a viable alternative program for subscribers and other ticket buyers to mitigate any long-term impact on our relationship with our key audiences. The closure will reduce our performance weeks in Sydney by more than 50% and our earned revenue generated over those weeks is crucial in ensuring the viability of our company and complementing government, philanthropic and corporate support. The Sydney Opera House venue and location also provides a high prestige advantage for corporate entertainment. The disruption whilst necessary will have significant financial impacts on the Company and we are attempting to alleviate the costs of disruption where possible. On a more personal note I would like to pay tribute to our Board Member Robert Leece AO RFD who passed away suddenly in December. The loss of Robert was felt even more keenly as he was only appointed to the Board in July. 2015 was also a year in which I suffered a lengthy illness which took me offline for a considerable period of time. I would like to thank Tim McFarlane who stepped in as Acting Chairman and helped steer the Company through difficult times.
Teddy Tahu Rhodes in the title role of Don Giovanni
I must acknowledge the importance of the financial support we receive from our major stakeholders including patrons, subscribers and corporate sponsors. The work of the Opera Australia Capital Fund is also vital to the future of our company and I would like to thank its Board and patrons. Our work across the country is supported by our government partners, the Federal Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, and the governments of New South Wales and Victoria. Finally, as always, on behalf of the Board I would like to thank the Opera Australia team for the outstanding 2015 productions in theatres, regional venues, schools and outdoors. Over the year, around 1,500 artists, technicians, wardrobe and props makers, designers, directors, musicians along with our hard-working support teams across many disciplines, drove Opera Australia’s core business to deliver exceptional opera to audiences across the country.
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Craig Hassall AM
Over 2015, Opera Australia continued to position itself as a truly 21st-century opera company by harnessing new technology, new platforms and new collaborations to broaden the parameters of opera and attract new and more diverse audiences. 2015 was the year we introduced the magical world of The Rabbits to sell-out audiences across the country and presented our first opera, The Divorce, created specifically for TV and film. Along with critical and audience acclaim for our annual in-theatre seasons in Sydney and Melbourne, we travelled the country with our touring production of The Magic Flute, visited hundreds of schools with a specially produced classroom-sized Hansel and Gretel, and reached out via community choirs in Parramatta.
Lise Lindstrom in the title role of Turandot
It was also a year of intense scrutiny with the release of a discussion paper arising from the National Opera Review, and a year of significant planning to manage the 2017 temporary closure of our Sydney venue, the Joan Sutherland Theatre. On the flipside, 2015 was also the year in which our Young Artist Program graduate, Nicole Car, made her resoundingly successful debut at the Royal Opera Covent Garden, launching her career on the international stage. Of course, no Opera Australia year would be complete without major events such as the perennially successful Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – for 2015, a sumptuous production of Aida complete with camels; a dazzling musical – a tap dancing extravaganza with wonderful Cole Porter songs, Anything Goes; and, of course, a clutch of Helpmann Awards and Green Room Awards.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT CONTINUED
In-theatre Productions Our in-theatre attendances were the highest in many years in both Sydney and Melbourne. The Sydney New Year’s Eve Gala and Opera were once again sold out and the subsequent season of La Bohème was a huge success and featured the Australian debut of Maija Kovalevska in the role of Mimì. Julie Taymor’s delightfully playful production of The Magic Flute returned to the Sydney Opera House with this version specially designed to appeal to families and children. The season included a ‘relaxed’ performance in which children with learning difficulties could talk and walk around. John Bell’s revival of his acclaimed production of Tosca set in 1943 when Mussolini’s successors abandoned Rome to the invading German armies featured Amanda Echalaz in her Australian debut in the title role. Our Sydney Summer audiences would riot if we did not include one of the world’s most loved operas, Madama Butterfly. In this Moffatt Oxenbould production Sydney audiences were treated to a remarkable performance of CioCio-San by Alexia Voulgaridou who last wowed local audiences with her Tosca in 2014. The
next and very different production in Sydney was a startling and powerful new production of Gounod’s Faust. Featuring a roll call of fabulous artists such as Michael Fabiano, Nicole Car, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and director Sir David McVicar, this dark and sinister co-production with the the Royal Opera House Covent Garden attracted brilliant reviews and a Helpmann Award for Best Male Performer in an Opera for Michael Fabiano. The Melbourne Autumn season opened with Madama Butterfly. For this production, one of Opera Australia’s favourite sopranos, Hyeseoung Kwon sang the role of Cio-Cio-San. Her interpretation of the abandoned lover won her many critical plaudits and, as word spread, tickets proved hard to obtain. We enjoyed our highest attendance levels for some years thanks to the power of Puccini and wonderful casting. Sir David McVicar’s dark and provocative production of Don Giovanni featured an allAustralian cast led by Teddy Tahu Rhodes in the title role. First seen in Sydney in 2014, Mozart’s dramatic opera was the first of three specially commissioned new productions of the Da Ponte trilogy directed by McVicar. Elijah Moshinsky’s production of Don Carlos returned after decades and was a tour de force. This
fiendishly difficult and lavish opera turned into the hit of the Melbourne autumn and Sydney winter seasons. Milijana Nikolic, Ferrucccio Furlanetto, Giacomo Prestia and José Carbó provided spectacular singing alongside almost 200 performers in the grandest of Verdi operas. The Sydney Winter season opened with a revival of Graeme Murphy’s lavish and fluid production of Turandot. And what a start it was to the winter season. Two of the most powerful international singers working today filled the principal roles of Turandot and Calaf. Together, Lise Lindstrom and Yonghoon Lee captivated audiences with their magnificent voices and stage presence. Opera Australia artist Lorina Gore made her debut in the role of Violetta Valéry in La Traviata. Elijah Moshinsky’s sumptuous production conducted by Verdi specialist Renato Palumbo provided a perfect backdrop to this much-loved opera. Moshinsky’s production of Don Carlos, presented as part of the Melbourne Autumn season, opened in Sydney with Latonia Moore in the role of Elisabeth de Valois along with José Carbó, Ferrucccio Furlanetto and Milijana Nikolic. To conclude the Sydney Winter season, Sir David McVicar directed a new production
of The Marriage of Figaro, the second of the Da Ponte trilogy. This production was much lauded for Jenny Tiramani’s meticulous designs which included materials, decorations and dyes of the time, with the vocal brilliance of Nicole Car as the Countess and Paolo Bordogna as Figaro. McVicar’s production of The Marriage of Figaro opened the Melbourne Spring season with Jane Ede making her debut in the role of the Countess. This was followed by a revival of Simon Phillips’ cheeky and very Australian adaptation of The Elixir of Love. Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour One of Sydney’s most anticipated outdoor events, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, was the setting for a magnificent new production of Aida. Once again, this fourth year of our annual outdoor spectacle gained national and international recognition and showed off Sydney as one of the world’s great tourism destinations. With Latonia Moore in the title role, the
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT CONTINUED
production, directed by Gale Edwards and designed by Mark Thompson, was dominated by a huge bust of Nefertiti, glittering costumes, exotic dancers and live camels. The film of the production was distributed across Australia and attracted thousands of viewers internationally. The success of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is due to the ongoing investment of the NSW Government through Destination NSW and the vision and generosity of Dr Haruhisa Handa. Annual Musical Our annual musical proved to be a critical success. Described by the New York Times as ‘a deluxe candy box of Cole Porter’s best songs’, Anything Goes delighted audiences in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Starring the indefatigable Caroline O’Connor, audiences clapped and stomped along to some of the most strenuous and challenging dance and tap routines imaginable. Anything Goes claimed three Helpmann Awards: Best Choreography in a Musical for Andrew Hallsworth, Best Female Actor in a Musical for Caroline O’Connor and Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Alex Rathgeber. I must acknowledge our brilliant production partner, John Frost, for his exceptional contribution to the musical art form and enthusiastic contribution to our annual musical extravaganza.
National Engagement Since 1996 Opera Australia has toured to 110 different venues, presenting 549 performances of high quality opera to a regional audience of more than 245,000. Along the way we have built the regional relationships that enable us to be nimble enough to present opera in regional towns and communities in vastly differing venues. Our 2015 regional tour of The Magic Flute was designed to entertain people of all ages and toured 17 regional centres in Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia. We also undertook an extensive Primary Schools Tour through Victoria and NSW with a touring party of professional performers. These tours reached over 70,000 students across urban, outer-metropolitan and regional areas.
Top Left: Hiromi Omura as Madama Butterfly Madama Butterfly Left: Durkin as Adina and members of the Opera Australia Chorus The Elixir of Love
However, the depth of our regional engagement runs deeper than ‘in and out’ regional performances. Our Regional Children’s Chorus and Regional Student Scholarship programs engage children and young people in each town we visit. These provide training and development opportunities for children
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Opera Australia also developed regional talent through our Regional Student Scholarships. This scholarship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for emerging regional performers. Over 130 students auditioned during our last Regional Tour, receiving invaluable audition experience and feedback on their performance, equivalent to a masterclass. Ultimately four senior secondary students were selected and invited to come and spend a week at our national headquarters in Sydney.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT CONTINUED
to perform onstage alongside professional singers, orchestra and crew. This is not just a participatory exercise, but also an exercise in artistic excellence as we develop regional artists over time. Over the two-year (2014/15) national Regional Tour of The Magic Flute, the inaugural Regional Children’s Chorus program featured 757 children across the country performing alongside our professional singers, in their own towns, seen by their family, friends and communities. A local choir leader was selected in each participating town, who then either created a new choir, or worked with an existing one. Since the 2014 tour of The Magic Flute, two members of our Children’s Chorus, one from Bendigo and one from Armidale, have successfully auditioned for Opera Australia’s mainstage seasons. Proof that the Regional Children’s Chorus is a wonderful opportunity and training ground for the next generation of artists and arts lovers.
By bridging the opera education gap for children in regional Australia, we foster a lifelong love of the arts and create opportunities for learning that may not be otherwise possible outside the capital cities. A 21st-Century Opera Company Like major opera companies around the world, Opera Australia must confront changing demographics, distribution platforms, people’s taste and how they access entertainment and cultural needs. We are confronting this issue head on. This year, in association with ABC TV, Princess Pictures and The Opera Conference, we presented our first opera created specifically for viewing outside of traditional venues – The Divorce. The result was a unique multi-platform project that re-invented opera for television,
film and online audiences across the country. Composed by Elena Kats-Chernin with libretto by Joanna Murray-Smith, this new Australian work was initially broadcast over four nights on ABC TV in December last year. The Divorce had a cumulative reach of 1.1 million viewers including a regional (non-city) reach of 311,000 viewers or 4% of Australia’s regional population. In regional NSW, 49,000 people watched at least one episode with many more watching on iView. Although we have a long history of presenting and commissioning new operatic work, the audience numbers for The Divorce were far greater than other contemporary productions presented in traditional venues. This is a remarkable feat for a new operatic work. In February we presented a newly commissioned opera, The Rabbits, as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. This co-production with Barking Gecko Theatre Company in association with West Australian Opera was co-commissioned by the Perth International Arts Festival and the Melbourne Festival. It is based on the much-loved book of the same name by John Marsden with illustrations by Oscar award-winning Shaun Tan. The production was brought to life with original composition by Kate Miller-Heidke and Iain Grandage, libretto by Lally Katz and directed by John Sheedy. The production sold out in Perth and again sold out in October
as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival. The Rabbits won four Helpmann Awards including Best Presentation for Children, Best Costume Design, Best New Australian Work and Best Original Score. This successful venture shows very clearly that if the product is right then people will come. Our Stakeholders Our continued expansion and evolution is only possible due to the support of many key stakeholders. The Federal Government, through the Australia Council for the Arts, is our primary government supporter. The New South Wales and Victorian Governments’ ongoing support is vital and I must acknowledge the investment of Destination NSW and the generosity of Dr Haruhisa Handa for our annual presentation of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. The Federal Government is also a key partner of our national touring program through Playing Australia.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REPORT CONTINUED
Our Principal Partner Mazda Australia once again generously contributed to our level of public engagement through two major free outdoor events, Mazda Opera in the Domain (Sydney) and Mazda Opera in the Bowl (Melbourne). These annual, free outdoor events allow thousands of people to experience the brilliant sounds of Opera Australia soloists and orchestra in a casual, family-friendly setting. Alongside Mazda sits a long list of ongoing partnerships with Australian companies that allow us to present work in our major cities and regional centres. The level of private support continues to grow. We have an incredibly committed and loyal group of philanthropists who assist us in providing some of our most valuable programs such as supporting emerging artists and the development of educational and outreach programs. To all of you, thank you.
Hugh Sheridan and Lisa McCune in The Divorce
Orchestra (AOBO) maintains its position as the busiest orchestra in the country and it provides the backbone to all that we do. In a typical year, the Sydney-based AOBO will give some 175 performances of more than a dozen operas, and more than 80 performances for The Australian Ballet while Orchestra Victoria supports our Melbourne seasons. In June, Jun Yi Ma was appointed Concertmaster and Artistic Adviser of the AOBO. Our permanent chorus and ensemble deliver their vocal magic night after night, day after day, to hundreds of thousands of people around the country. Our Artistic director Lyndon Terracini continues to drive the Company’s artistic ambition and must be congratulated on expanding Opera Australia’s reach and accessibility and delivering a 21stcentury vision for opera. Our Board of Directors - chaired by David Mortimer and Tim McFarlane as Acting Chair - is essential to our longer term planning and helping us to navigate a difficult financial environment. Our teams and crews in Sydney and Melbourne keep everything ticking over, working assiduously and creatively to keep our organisation lean and nimble. We have to be agile, both creatively and financially, to ensure a strong and bold future for Opera Australia. We are uniquely Australian and unique in the world. It is by presenting exceptional and accessible opera experiences and exciting audiences around the nation that Opera Australia will ensure its future.
The Team Opera needs more people than any other live art form to succeed. More than 1,500 people were employed over 2015 in creating opera, presenting opera, building opera, touring opera, marketing opera, broadcasting opera and engaging people young and old across Australia with opera. The Australian Opera and Ballet
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Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Aida
Artists 2015 Principals
Opera Australia is one of the largest employers in the Live Performance industry in Australia. We have about 230 core permanent staff. In addition, we employ about 1000 seasonal and casual employees throughout the year on different productions. Our staff include singers, orchestra instrumentalists, repetiteurs, language coaches, directors, conductors, designers, electricians, mechanists, props technicians, dressers, makeup technicians and other production staff, stage managers, stores persons, carpenters,
welders, tailors, sewers, wig-makers, painters, writers, ticket-sellers, front-of-house staff and administrators. Opera Australia partners with venue providers, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Melbourne Arts Centre and various schools and regional art centres to work collaboratively with their back stage and front-ofhouse staff. Our volunteers also make significant contributions to our activities. All our people bear the hall marks of superior skills in their respective crafts and passion for the Opera.
Stacey Alleaume Hollie Andrew Natalie Aroyan Zara Barrett Emily Barber Kirilie Blythman Nicole Car Olivia Cranwell Hannah Dahlenburg Regina Daniel Jacqueline Dark Jessica Dean Anna Dowsley* Carmen Duncan Rachelle Durkin Amanda Echalaz Jane Ede Taryn Fiebig Julie Lea Goodwin* Lorina Gore Antoinette Halloran Roxane Hislop Jessica Hitchcock
Angela Hogan Anke Höppner Maija Kovalevska Debora Krizak Hyeseoung Kwon Celeste Lazarenko Lise Lindstrom Claire Lyon Anna McDougall Jacqueline Mabardi Daria Masiero Dominica Matthews Emma Matthews Lisa Maza Kate Miller-Heidke Latonia Moore Milijana Nikolic Caroline O'Connor Hiromi Omura Sian Pendry Kathryn Radcliffe Rebecca Rashleigh Agnes Sarkis
Clarissa Spata Alexia Voulgaridou Jessica Westcott Amanda Windred Victoria Yastrebova Nicole Youl Anna Yun Jonathan Abernethy* Richard Anderson Pelham Andrews Damian Arnold Jud Arthur Jonathan Biggins Andrei Bondarenko Paolo Bordogna Kanen Breen Martin Buckingham Giorgio Caoduro José Carbó Conal Coad Gerry Connolley Marcus Corowa Aldo Di Toro
Gennadi Dubinsky Samuel Dundas James Egglestone Michael Fabiano Warren Fisher Walter Fraccaro Ferrucio Furlanetto Warwick Fyfe Luke Gabbedy Steven Gallop Ashley Giles Alexander Hargreaves Geoffrey Harris Michael Hart Chr istopher Hillier Michael Honeyman Andrew Jones Nicholas Jones Wayne Scott Kermond Simon Kim Rame Lahaj Rosario La Spina Yonghoon Lee
David Leha John Longmuir Shane Lowrencev Graeme Macfarlane Todd McKenney Oliver Mann Riccardo Massi Simon Meadows Robert Mitchell Andrew Moran David Parkin Giacomo Prestia Alex Rathgeber Arnold Rawls Eugene Raggio Teddy Tahu Rhodes Claudio Sgura Daniel Sumegi Paulo Szot Daniel Tambasco Adrian Tamburini Gianluca Terranova Diego Torre
Vanessa Lewis Yolanda Lorenzato Jodie McGuren Marjory McKay Ke-Lu Ma Lynette Murray Sandra Oldis Sharon Olde
Leah Thomas Margaret Trubiano Katherine Wiles Anna Yun Dean Bassett Christopher Bath Gregory Brown Brad Cooper
Malcolm Ede Thomas Hamilton Scott Hannigan Stuart Haycock Jin Tea Kim Nara Lee David Lewis
Jeffrey Lock Jonathan McCauley Kent McIntosh Clifford Plumpton Benjamin Rasheed Ryan Sharp Sitiveni Talei
Michael Curtain Paul Fitzsimon Ian Grandage
Simon Kenway Anthony Legge Andrea Licata
Gianluca Martinenghi Nicholas Milton Andrea Molino
Benjamin Northey Renato Palumbo Guillaume Tourniaire
Chorus Full Time Equivalents Ongoing
Seasonal
Casual
Total
ARTISTIC Principal singers
Chloris Bath Emma Castelli Annabelle Chaffey Anna-Louise Cole Rebecca Currier Mary-Ann Fraser Eleanor Greenwood Eva Kong
1
25
20
46
Chorus
34
2
15
51
Conductors
Orchestral players
57
1
24
82
Dancers
0
0
7
7
Christian Badea Andrea Battistoni Peter Casey Brian Castles-Onion
Extras
0
0
7
7
Music and language staff
7
2
2
11
Other artist support
4
3
7
14
Artistic administration
13
0
1
14
TOTAL ARTISTIC
116
33
83
232
Stage management
6
4
2
12
Stage staff
15
13
14
42
Workshop staff
16
1
10
27
Wardrobe and Wigs Staff
14
15
7
36
Stores Staff
4
2
9
15
Facilities
2
2
4
8
TECHNICAL
Technical Administration TOTAL TECHNICAL
Music Staff Chorus Master Assistant Chorus Master
Anthony Hunt Thomas Johnson
Repetiteurs Siro Battaglin Brian Castles-Onion Pamela Christie Michael Curtain
Paul Fitzsimon Brad Gilchrist Sue Goessling John Haddock
Raymond Lawrence Tahu Matheson Stephen Walter
Language Coaches Tanja Binggeli Nicole Dorigo Adriana Hanic
Heather Fairbairn Andrew Frith Kate Gaul Michael Gow Hugh Halliday
David McVicar Andy Morton Elijah Moshinsky Graeme Murphy AO
Moffatt Oxenbould AM Simon Phillips Shane Placentino Roger Press
Johanna Puglisi John Sheedy Julie Taymor Kim Walker Francesca Zambello
Peter England Dale Ferguson Kristian Fredrikson Peter Hall Robert Jones
Robert Kemp Julie Lynch Teresa Negroponte Brigitte Reiffenstuel Michael Scott-Mitchell
Julie Taymor Mark Thompson Brian Thomson Jenny Tiramani George Tsypin
Gabriela Tylesova Michael Waters Anna Watkins Michael Yeargan
Directors
9
1
0
10
66
38
46
150
OTHER
Matthew Barclay John Bell AO OBE Dean Bryant Gale Edwards Naomi Edwards
Designers Paul Brown Russell Cohen Tony David Cray Michael Curry Charles Edwards
Lighting Designers Robert Bryan Paule Constable Gary Dooley David Finn Donald Holder
Marketing Development and Sales Staff
22
10
4
36
Management and Admin
26
9
1
36
Choreographers
TOTAL OTHER
48
19
5
72
TOTAL
230
90
134
454
Mark Dendy Andrew George Andrew Hallsworth Lucas Jervies
Gary Marder Nigel Levings John Drummond Montgomery Jonathan Perry
John Rayment Nick Schlieper Matt Scott Trent Suidgeest Gavan Swift
Michael Keegan-Dolan Graeme Murphy AO Daphne Strothmann
* Members of the Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program Program Coordinator: Andrew Greene
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The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra (AOBO) is the busiest of all Australian orchestras, giving around 290 performances each year. A wholly owned subsidiary of Opera Australia, the AOBO performs for Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet during their respective Sydney seasons, as well as Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour. Formerly the Sydney Elizabethan Orchestra, the AOBO has earned a reputation for warmth of sound and impressive flexibility in the most challenging of environments. The repertory performance schedule of Opera Australia means that up to five different productions are being performed and prepared at any one time, resulting in up to eight performances per week. Excellent seasonal and casual musicians provide respite for the permanent musicians of the Orchestra.
Nicole Car and Andrea Molino with members of the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra
Richard Anderson as Dulcamara, and his driver The Elixir of Love, 2006
Notable recent productions for Opera Australia in the last year have included: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Aida, which saw the orchestra playing once again on the harbour stage in the acclaimed fourth season of this landmark Sydney event; Gounod’s Faust and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in sumptuous productions directed by David McVicar and each conducted by Guillaume Tourniaire and Anthony Legge; a return of John Bell’s superb production of Puccini’s Tosca conducted by Andrea Battistoni; Elijah Moshinsky’s lavish interpretation of
Verdi’s massive Don Carlos conducted by Andrea Licata; and The Australian Ballet’s much-loved production of Sleeping Beauty conducted by Nicolette Fraillon. In 2015 the AOBO was involved in numerous interesting projects outside the orchestra pit. In addition to the customary NYE Gala Concert and Australian Singing Competition Finals Concert, the AOBO was able to venture into new projects, partly due to Opera Australia’s Musical Theatre production of Anything Goes requirement for a swing band. The AOBO was therefore available for: an ABC Classics recording project with rising star soprano Nicole Car and conductor Andrea Molino that was released as the CD called The Kiss, rising to the top of the ARIA classical list; Andrew McKinnon’s production of From La Scala to Broadway in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall; Gala Concerts with famous soprano Angela Gheorghiu performed in Sydney and Melbourne; and ABC’s made-for-TV opera The Divorce. The AOBO also performed with YouTube’s number 1 classical artist, Ludovico Einaudi, in sold out performances. The Orchestra also features on recent live recordings in the Sydney Opera House of Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, La Boheme and Madama Butterfly and all the HOSH productions (La Traviata, Carmen, Madama Butterfly, Aida and, in 2016, Turandot) in cinema and DVD release.
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Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra
Concertmaster and Artistic Adviser Jun Yi Ma† Associate Concertmaster Huy-Nguyen Bui Deputy Concertmaster Catalin Ungureanu (Acting) Violin Adrian Keating* Tony Gault* Airena Nakamura (2nd Violins) Mark Fitzpatrick* (2nd Violins) Virginia Blunt Thomas Dundas Rachel Easton Yu-Qing Rebecca Irwin Marek Kruszynski Samuel Podjarski Daniel Rosenbaum Robert Sek Jaroslaw Talar Rachel Westwood Viola Virginia Comerford Angela Lindsay^ Amanda Murphy Magda Kruszynska Cello Teije Hylkema Eszter Mikes-Liu* Andrew Hines* * Pierre Emery Margaret Iddison Henry Urbanavicius Double Bass Brett Berthold Andrew Meisel* Max McBride^ Edmund Bastian Tom Hamilton as Papageno Opera Australia's National Tour of The Magic Flute
†
Trumpet Joshua Clarke Craig Ross* Bruce Hellmers Flute Elizabeth Pring Amanda Hollins* Piccolo Diane Berger Oboe Conall McClure Matthew Tighe* Mark Bruwel Cor Anglais Andrew Malec Clarinet Peter Jenkin Phillip Green* Richard Rourke
Cornet Brian Evans Trombone Gregory van der Struik Brett Favell* William Farmer Bass Trombone Brett Page Tuba Edwin Diefes Percussion Shaun Trubiano Timpani David Clarence Allan Watson*
Bassoon Douglas Eyre Matthew Ockenden* Gillian Hansen
Harp Jane Rosenson
Horn Bourian Boubbov Victoria Chatterley Lisa Wynne-Allen
Italics Principal * Associate Principal/Principal 1st Violin * * Acting Assistant Principal ^ Guest Associate Principal # Contract Musician
The Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra’s Concertmaster is proudly supported by John Frost AM
Orchestra Management General Manager, Orchestra Gérard Patacca Orchestra Manager Emma In der Maur Deputy Orchestra Manager Ella Howard Assistant Orchestra Manager - Operations Anna Bennett Assistant Orchestra Manager - Production Valérie Morgan-Pertus Assistant Orchestra Manager Rhonda Jones
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The Patron Program
Patrons - $2,000+
The Patron Program is an important and integral part of Opera Australia. Opera lives in the hearts and imagination of the more than 550,000 people who enjoy our performances each year. Opera Australia is sincerely grateful to the individuals, organisations, trusts and foundations whose loyal support underpins everything we do. Yvonne Kenny AM, Patron-in-Chief
Leading Patrons The Susan & Isaac Wakil Foundation
Yvonne Kenny AM, Patron-in-Chief
Ambassador Patrons - $20,000+ Robert Albert AO RFD RD and Elizabeth Albert Philip Bacon AM Jennifer Brukner Mrs Rowena Danziger AM and Mr K G Coles AM
Christine Davis Martin Dickson AM and Susie Dickson Lady (Mary) Fairfax AC OBE Hans and Petra Henkell Iphygenia Kallinikos and
in memory of Despina Kallinikos Anthony and Sharon Lee Foundation David Mortimer AO Maureen Wheeler AO Anonymous (2)
Rex Irwin, Esq. Mr and Mrs Aron Kleinlehrer John Lamble AO and Suzanne Kelly MIA Contract Lawyers Lisa and Doug McKern Nick and Caroline Minogue Mrs Patricia New Katharine Olsen
Richard Owens AM Kenneth R Reed AM Fred Street AM and Dorothy Street Alden Toevs and Judi Wolf Professor Barbara van Ernst AM Cameron Williams Roy and Gay Woodward Anonymous (4)
Peter Griffin AM Pat and Frank Harvey Alistair Hay Jennifer Hershon Peter and Jenny Hordern Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM and the late Dr Edward Jackson AM Dr Judith Kinnear Dr Joan M Lawrence AM Peter Lovell Peter and Pamela McKee Lisa and Doug McKern Suzanne and Antony Maple-Brown Justice Jane Mathews AO Graham Miller Catriona and Simon Mordant AM Colin and Rosalyn Nicholson Tom and Ruth O'Dea
Dr David and Dr Gillian Ritchie Janis Salisbury Mark and Ruth Sampson Phillip and Sue Schudmak Rod Sims and Alison Pert Carol Sisson John and Jo Strutt Tony and Josephine Sukkar John Symond AM Peter and Leonie Szabo Mr Kevin Troy Michael Troy Lyn Williams AM Ray Wilson OAM in memory of James Agapitos OAM Elizabeth Windschuttle Christine Yip and Paul Brady Anonymous (3)
Margaret Gibbs Rachel Goldberg and Alan Goldberg AO QC Leon and Judy Goldman Leonard Groat Nereda Hanlon and Michael Hanlon AM Dr John Harvey AO and Mrs Yvonne Harvey Craig Hassall AM Nora Hinchen and John Flint OAM Ervin and Judith Katz Kernaghan & Associates Lawyers Mrs Suzanne Kirkham Anna-Lisa Klettenberg Kloeden Foundation Ms Eugenia Langley JP G D Levy and J M Hockey Rosie Lew and Family Alex and Halina Lewenberg Paul and Joanne Lindwall Peter Lowry OAM and Carolyn Lowry OAM Justice Robert McDougall The Alexandra and Lloyd Martin Family Foundation Robyn Martin-Weber Dr and Mrs P J Meddings Dr Mark and Dr Alla Medownick Mrs Margot Melzak Thomas Timothy Murphy Mrs Judith Myers Brian Nebenzahl OAM RFD and Jocelyn Nebenzahl Professor G C O'Brien and Dr I E O'Brien Miki Oikawa David and Lynne Olsson Dr Robert and Mrs Joan Osborn Mrs Roslyn Packer AO
George and Jillian Pappas G Pearson Fred Peisah Professor David Penington AC Susan Perrin-Kirby Dave Poddar and Angela Flannery Greeba Pritchard Josef and Sarina Reisinger Dr Mark Renehan Bruce Rosenberg Graeme Samuel AC and Jill Davies Edward and Susan Schutz Penelope Seidler AM Mrs H Showniruk Dr Michael Slaytor Margot Smith Mr Sam Smorgon AO and Mrs Minnie Smorgon Assoc. Prof. Ross Steele AM Anthony Stolarek Dr and Mrs David Sugerman Wirat Sukprem and Alexander Gosling AM Mrs Graham Thorp Mrs Alma Toohey Mrs Dawn Troy John Tuckey Judge Robyn Tupman Mr and Mrs Peter Turner Mr David Valentine Mrs Suzanne A R Waterhouse Claire Weis Geoffrey and Karen Wilson Sue and Bill Wood Donna Woodhill Anonymous (9)
Artist Patrons - $12,000+ Antoinette Albert Mrs K E Bryan Juliana and Robert Clemesha Vic and Katie French Mr John Frost AM Ian Dickson and Reg Holloway Tom Hayward and Fiona Martin-Weber Mrs Jane Hemstritch Dr I J Hunter
Governor Patrons - $7,500+ Nance Atkinson Trust Peter Bartholomew and Donna Pelka Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO Tom Begg Stephen Bell The Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP Russell and Leanne Bowie Ian and Jillian Buchanan Conal Coad and Colin Beutel Tatiana Crockett Michael and Shanny Crouch Mary Davidson and Frederick Davidson The Hon Mrs Ashley Dawson-Damer AM Mrs R Dechert The Denton Family Trust Suvan and Shamistha de Soysa Chris and Judy Fullerton The Greatorex Foundation
Benefactor Patrons - $4,000+ Jeannette Abrahams David and Elizabeth Adams Lesley Alway and Paul Hewison Janette and Jim Bain AM Michael Ball Judith and David Beal Margaret and James Beattie Mrs Christine Bishop Kevin Bleasel AO Rosemary and Julian Block Virginia Braden OAM and Ken Woolley AM Audrey Blunden Jannie Brown Dr Andrew Buchanan Mrs Barbara Cain Pam Caldwell Dr Lionel Chan Mrs David Clarke The Clayton Family John Conde AO Maxwell J Connery OAM and Joan R Connery OAM Mrs Joan Darling Chum Darvall AM Mrs Catherine Davies Ernest Dawes OBE and Nola Dawes Mr J T Dominguez CBE AM and Mrs Dominguez Mrs Gordon Douglass AM Sandy and Phil Dudgeon Suellen and Ron Enestrom David Epstein and Nell Bennett Dr Helen Ferguson Diana and Richard Fisher Mr Gerhard and Mrs Monica Flechsig The Late Mrs Neilma Gantner
Anthony Adair Dr and Mrs Mario Adamo Rae and David Allen Noel and Sylvia Alpins The Hon Richard Alston Dr Ben Anderson Sidney and Lynn Anderson Dr Patricia Armstrong-Grant OBE Judith Augustine Rosalind Baker Jenny Barnes Ross and Ann Barnetson Tony Barnett Dedicated to John Beaton Mrs Jeanette Beaumont Laurie Bebbington and Elizabeth O’Keeffe Alasdair Beck Dr Jane Beeby Dr Simon Bell and Dr Jennifer Coghlan-Bell Gita Bellin Esther and Brian Benjamin Nicole Berger Tom Best Minnie Biggs Graeme Black Mrs Jan Bowen AM Mrs Roslynne Bracher AM Ms Jane Brodribb Dr Roderick Brooks Beth Brown and Tom Bruce AM Professor David Bryant Richard Burbidge QC Diana Burleigh Ita Buttrose AO OBE David Byrne Hugh and Hilary Cairns Elise Callander Ian Cameron Lynda Campbell Mrs Naomi Carrick Mr and Mrs M H Carriol Emily Chang Jan and Andrew Cheetham Greg and Terry Chesher Caroline and Robert Clemente Miss Renata Conrad Leith Cooper Tim and Bryony Cox P F and M J Crane M and M Cranitch Mr Charles P Curran AC and Mrs Eva Curran Mrs Mary Curtis Rod and Marie Dalziel Mrs Jeanette Davies Kathryn Davies Mr Michael Diamond AM MBE Jennifer and Robert Dickerson AO Disium Pty Ltd The Hon. John Dowd AO QC Andrew and Barbara Dowe Mrs Rose Downer Dr William Downey Dana Dupere Charles Edmonds James Fairfax AC Mr Bill Fleming Mrs M Ford Dr J A Frew and Mrs D M Frew Sabina and David Full Robert Furley and Leon Nicholas Eric and Tonia Gale Justin and Anne Gardener John Garnsey QC Mrs Fleur Gibbs Dr Nicholas S Girdis CBE and Mrs Marina Girdis
The Hon. Justice and Mrs G Giudice Mr Timothy Glanville George Golvan QC George and Kay Gordon Beatrice Gray Miss Catherine Gray Dr Anthony Grigg and Mr Paul Williamson Mr and Mrs Egon Grossberg James and Sarah Guest The Hon Ian V Gzell QC Richard and Judy Haes Mrs Pamela Hall Louis Hamon OAM Judy Hastings Alan Hauserman and Janet Nash Assoc. Prof. Bernard Haylen and Mrs Denise Haylen Peter Hennings Dr W J Heriot D S and S P Heywood Dr and Mrs R F Hicks John David Hobbs Michael Hobbs Hartmut and Ruth Hofmann Dr Rosita Holenbergh-Gibson Mrs Naida Holliday Ms A Hooper Dr Ron Houghton Ian Hunt and Vicki Nicholson Michael and Penny Hunter Dr Alastair Jackson Stuart Jennings John S Jessup Dr Michael Joel AM and Mrs Anna Joel Dr Garry Joslin and Prof Dimity Reed AM Anne and Bruce Judd John Kaldor AM and Naomi Milgrom Kaldor Mrs Mathilde Kearny-Kibble Dr S M Kelly James and Diana Kimpton Mrs Deborah Kirk In memory of Dr Suzanne Korbel George Krawat The Hon Justice François Kunc and Felicity Rourke Peter Lazar AM Catherine and Yick Him Lee Stephanie Lee Mrs Ruth Leon Barbara and Bernard Leser Ann and David Levitan Mrs Julie Lockhart Richard and Elizabeth Longes Jill and Brian Loton Drs Kathryn Lovric and Roger Allan Mr Howard Lowe Kevin and Susan McCabe Mrs Marie McCann OAM Susan McCarthy Dr Ann McFarlane Avril and Peter McGrath George and Patricia McGregor Robert and Sarah McKay Marcus and Brooke MacLean Mark and Sue MacLennan Hon Ian and Mrs Julie Macphee Geoffrey Magney David Malouf AO Jenny Manton Professor Bernard and Mrs Joyce Marks Jennifer K Marshall Graham Matheson Dr Bryan and Mrs Debora Mendelson Desmond B Misso, Esq The Monarch Investment Group John and Isobel Morgan
Adrian Morris and Eileen Chanin Ted and Brenda Mouritz Dr Stephen Mulligan Associate Professor Jane Munro AM B P Murphy Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer Dr and Mrs Ken Neale Irena Nebenzahl Dr Paul Nisselle AM and Mrs Sue Nisselle Mrs Robyn Pal Timothy and Eva Pascoe Dr Kevin Pedemont Professor David Penington AC Ms Janine Perrett Phillip and Jennifer Perry D E Pidd Mr Ian Plater Mr Peter Charles Prior CLJ Railx Aluminium Products Judith and Ernest Rapee Angela Raymond Jane Recny Inge Riebe Frank A Robertson Mr Geoffrey Robertson QC Mr Graeme Robertson Michael and Angela Rodd Bruce and Ruth Rodell Mr Jeremy Ruskin QC and Ms Roz Zalewski Rowan and Susie Russell Donna L St Clair Margaret Sammut The Satir Centre of Australia Mrs M Saunders Garry E Scarf and Morgie Blaxill Aubrey G Schrader Tom Schrecker Max and Jill Schultz Caroline Serventy Mrs Penelope Service Dr John and Mrs Sue Sheehy Professor Gillian Shenfield AM Tim and Lynne Sherwood Mrs Suzanne Simon Gary Singer and Geoffrey Smith Michael and Melissa Slattery Denise Smith In memory of Beryl Stephens Mrs Judith Stewart Mr Nigel Stoke Victoria Taylor The Langham, Melbourne Victoria Thorogood Sandy and Anna Todd Richard and Caroline Travers Peter Tremewen Suzanne and Ross Tzannes AM Ullmer Family Charitable Endowment Stephen and Paulin Walter John S Walton AM The Shirley Ward Foundation Derek Watt and Cathy Brown-Watt Dr Eric Wegman Roslyn Weiley and Chris Harper The Honourable Justice Anthony Whealy Professor Chris and Mrs Vimala Whitaker Caroline Wilkinson Evan Williams AM and Janet Williams Mr Rod Woolley Jill Wran Mr Kerry Wright Dr Kun-Gay Yap and Dr Kuldip Kaur Anonymous (26)
International Patrons
Trusts and Foundations
DR HARUHISA HANDA, Honorary International Patron
The Association of Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies Cassandra Gantner Foundation Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund Crown Resorts Foundation Packer Family Foundation
Roderick and Gillian Deane Hamish Parker
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Syndicate 30 - The Da Ponte Cycle Opera Australia salutes those Patrons who have joined Syndicate 30: Mozart for 2016. Members of each year's Syndicate support a new production and participate directly in the work of Opera Australia. We sincerely thank our Syndicate 30 Patrons for their generosity. Mrs Rowena Danziger AM and Mr Ken Coles AM Jennifer Hershon Iphygenia Kallinikos and in memory of Despina Kallinikos Dr Joan M Lawrence AM Suzanne and Anthony Maple-Brown Dr and Mrs P J Meddings Brian Nebenzahl OAM RFD and Jocelyn Nebenzahl
Colin and Rosalyn Nicholson D E Pidd Valmai Pidgeon AM David and Gillian Ritchie Cameron Williams Christine Yip and Paul Brady Anonymous (1)
Artist Patrons are proud to support the performances of our artists Jonathan Abernethy is supported by John Lamble AO and Suzanne Kelly Cheryl Barker AO is supported by Anthony and Sharon Lee Nicole Car is supported by Jane Hemstritch José Carbó is supported by Katharine Olsen Jacqueline Dark is supported by Juliana and Robert Clemesha Anna Dowsley is supported by Martin Dickson AM and Susie Dickson Samuel Dundas is supported by Maureen Wheeler AO Taryn Fiebig is supported by Maureen Wheeler AO Warwick Fyfe is supported by Lisa and Doug McKern Lorina Gore is supported by Mrs Rowena Danziger AM and Mr Kenneth Coles AM Andrew Jones is supported by Maureen Wheeler AO Dmitry Korchak is supported by Professor Barbara van Ernst AM Shane Lowrencev is supported by Vic and Katie French Jun Yi Ma, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra’s Concertmaster, is supported by John Frost AM Emma Matthews is supported by Jennifer Brukner Milijana Nikolic is supported by Kay Bryan Teddy Tahu Rhodes is supported by Rex Irwin, Esq. Diego Torre is supported by Jennifer Brukner John Wegner is supported by Hans and Petra Henkell
Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program The Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program is a two-year training program for selected young Australian opera singers. Designed to strengthen and supplement their already evident talent and performance skills, the program involves them closely with the rehearsal and performance activity of the Company. Opera Australia is most grateful for the support provided to enable the participation of singers in the Young Artist Program. Members of the program in 2016 are: Stacey Alleaume (supported by The Robert Lomax Young Artists Scholarship) Julie Lea Goodwin (supported by an anonymous donor) Eva Kong (supported by Roy and Gay Woodward)
Robert Greene - Program Coordinator
The Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation Access Program Caroline O'Connor as Reno Sweeney Anything Goes
Many people will experience opera for the first time this year thanks to the generous support of the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation. The Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation Access Program was established to give people who would not otherwise have access to opera the opportunity to attend Opera Australia performances at the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne for just $20. We are indebted to the Susan and Isaac Wakil Foundation for their inspired philanthropy.
Opera Society Inc. Opera Society Inc. is a Melbourne-based organisation which supports Opera Australia through its fund-raising activities and provides its members with informative and entertaining events throughout the year. The Society offers access to dress rehearsals, insights, film nights, lunches, brunches, concerts and recitals. Information about the Society is available from the office on (03) 9685 3757 or at www.operasociety.org.au
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Michael Traill AM Chairman
The Opera Australia Capital Fund’s reserves continued to grow in 2015, with total equity reaching $14.8 million at year end. In keeping with the Fund’s aim to help ensure the ongoing financial viability of Opera Australia, another distribution of $500,000 was made to the Company. The annual grants to Opera Australia now total almost $4 million.
Andrei Bondarenko as Count Almaviva, Annabelle Chaffey and Anna Yun as the Bridesmaids, Taryn Fiebig as Susanna, Paolo Bordogna as Figaro, Graeme Macfarlane as Don Curzio, Richard Anderson as Dr Bartolo, Jacqueline Dark as Marcellina and Nicole Car as Countess Almaviva The Marriage of Figaro
In less than three years the Capital Fund’s activities in London, including at The Dorchester and Rio Tinto headquarters, have attracted a growing number of supporters, largely Australian expats, with an interest in opera, its future in Australia and the development of young Australian singers. We look forward to the growth of this association. We extend sincere thanks to Ken Reed for hosting a Capital Fund reception at his Sydney apartment in August and to David Newby and Jane Clarke for welcoming
Capital Fund supporters to their home in the Southern Highlands in the Spring. The house and garden of Oldbury Farm, together with the voice of Julie Lea Goodwin, were the stars at this successful fundraising event. 2015 ended on a memorable note with the 11th annual Council of Governors’ dinner held at the Old Supreme Court of NSW, in the room named after its architect, Alexander Dawson. This gathering brought together members of the Council of Governors who have generously made leadership contributions or pledged significant bequests. During the year we welcomed new members, Michael and Mim Bartlett.
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I am fortunate to have had the support of my fellow Directors, David Armstrong, Philip Bacon, Ashley Dawson-Damer, Craig Hassall, François Kunc, David Mortimer, Roslyn Packer and Carena Shankar and thank them for their dedication and the active part they play in the activities of the Capital Fund. Most importantly, and on behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend sincere thanks to those opera lovers who, as benefactors to the Capital Fund, have chosen to make a significant difference to the future financial security of the national opera company, directly benefiting the audiences and artists of today and tomorrow.
Concert at Buckingham Palace A number of our supporters and guests were also invited to a special concert and reception at Buckingham Palace this year, celebrating the wealth of young Australian singers. The joint performance by Opera Australia and The Royal College of Music was attended by HRH The Prince of Wales, who has a longstanding commitment to the importance of nurturing young musical talent in Australia, having previously attended Opera Australia's 50th Anniversary Gala concert in 2006 and visited the Sydney Opera House during The Prince and The Duchess's tour of Australia in 2012.
Above: HRH The Prince of Wales with Conductor, Michael SimonTaryn O'Neill as Otello Rosewell, and Artists, Fiebig, Kiandra Howarth and Samuel Sakker with members of the Opera Chorus Below: HRH The PrinceAustralia of Wales with Kenneth Reed, Lady Otello Potter, Leonard Groat and Craig Hassall
Those Australians who had travelled from home and the expats who were present in the Ballroom were all equally proud of the stellar performances of Kiandra Howarth and Samuel Sakker, members of the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, and Opera Australia principal, Taryn Fiebig.
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Latonia Moore as Elisabeth de Valois Don Carlos
The Opera Australia Capital Fund was established to build capital reserves to help ensure the ongoing financial viability of Opera Australia. Council of Governors Philip Bacon AM (Chairman), David Armstrong, Michael and Mim Bartlett, Jane Brodribb, Jennifer Brukner, Jane Clarke and David Newby, Ken Coles AM, Rowena Danziger AM, Ashley Dawson-Damer AM, Gretchen Dechert, Mark Dimmitt, Lady (Mary) Fairfax AC OBE, Leonard Groat, Craig Hassall, Iphy Kallinikos, Judith Kinnear, The Hon Justice François Kunc, Phil and Helen Meddings, David Mortimer AO, Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer, Roslyn Packer AO, Hamish Parker, Gary Payne, Kenneth R Reed AM, John Reid AO, Carena Shankar, Michael Traill AM and Jenny Gage Traill, Barbara van Ernst AM, Ray Wilson OAM, Roy and Gay Woodward The Council of Governors comprises Directors of the Trustee Company; Donor Members who have either contributed a significant donation or pledged a specific bequest; and Special Members who actively participate in the Capital Fund's fundraising efforts. The Capital Fund continues to grow and makes an annual distribution to Opera Australia. This significant achievement has been made possible through the generosity of the following donors as well as the Australian Government and the State Governments of New South Wales and Victoria through the Reserves Incentive Funding Scheme. Russell and Lucinda Aboud Antoinette Albert Robert Albert AO RFD RD and Elizabeth Albert Betty Amsden AO Philip Bacon AM (Mrs) Carole Bailey Jim and Janette Bain Ballandry (Peter Griffin Family) Fund Mim and Michael Bartlett Alasdair Beck Lewis and Sally Bell Berg Family Foundation Alan and Christine Bishop Allan and Jane Blaikie Stephen Blamey Jan Bowen Alix Bradfield Dr and Mrs P Breidahl In memory of Lennox Brewer Dr Roderick Brooks Jennifer Brukner Carolyn Cameron Louise Christie Mr David Clarke AO and Mrs Jane Clarke Tony and Hellen Clarke Adrian Collette AM and Victoria Watson Prof Malcolm Coppleson AO and Mrs Patricia Coppleson Mr Bruce Corlett AM and Mrs Ann Corlett Alan and Elisabeth Cornell
Robin and Judy Crawford Michael and Shanny Crouch Crowe Horwath Cruise Brokers Australia Pty Ltd Mr Charles P Curran AC and Mrs Eva Curran Win Danby Elizabeth Dangar Mrs Rowena Danziger AM and Mr K G Coles AM Mrs David Darling The Hon Mrs John Dawson-Damer AM Mrs R Dechert Matthew Delasey Suvan and Shamistha de Soysa Ian Dickson Martin Dickson AM and Susie Dickson Francis Douglas Mrs Gordon Douglass AM and the late Mr Gordon Douglass Dr William Downey Marie Dreux Jane and David Duncan Suellen and Ron Enestrom James Fairfax AO Lady (Mary) Fairfax AC OBE Pip and Gordon Fell Jenny Ferguson The Hon W K and Mrs M Fisher Mr Bill Fleming Chris and Judy Fullerton Mrs Peter Geddes Donald and Rosita Gibson
The Goodman Family Alexander Gosling AM and Wirat Sukprem Ian and Ruth Gough Grant Family Charitable Trust Robert and Beatrice Gray Deirdre Hall and David Greatorex AO Peter Griffin AM John and Jo Grigg Leonard Groat Mr and Mrs Ian Harper Dr John Harvey AO and Mrs Yvonne Harvey In memory of the late Philip Hemstritch Hans and Petra Henkell Jennifer Hershon Hershon Family Neroli Hobbins Miss Jennifer Hole Mrs Cynthia Jackson AM and the late Dr Edward Jackson AM Major General Michael and Mrs Marlena Jeffery Reg and Marie Jewell Mrs Diana Jones AM DSJ and Mr David Jones AM OBE H Kallinikos Pty Ltd Noelene Keen-Ward and David Whitfield Dr Judith Kinnear Mrs Jean E Kirk Aron and Helen Kleinlehrer
Kloeden Foundation The Hon Justice François Kunc and Felicity Rourke John Lamble AO Dr Joan M Lawrence AM Liangrove Foundation Pty Ltd Juliet Lockhart Drs Kathryn Lovric and Roger Allan Mr Kevin McCann Tim and Caroline McFarlane Peter and Pamela McKee Judy Mackinnon Mrs Barbara McNulty OBE Dr Penelope McNulty Macquarie Group Foundation David Malouf AO Maple-Brown Family Charitable Trust Peter and Kate Mason Don and Angela Mercer Robert Morgan The Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Charitable Distribution Account Rupert Myer AO and Annabel Myer Dr and Mrs Ken Neale Mark and Louise Nelson David Newby Jim and Shirley Nield
Michael and Helen Nugent Justin and Sally O’Day Conrad and Alice Oppen Richard Owens OAM Roslyn Packer AO Pages Event Equipment Hamish Parker peckvonhartel architects John and Moya Phillips Valmai Pidgeon AM Robin Potter OAM PricewaterhouseCoopers Greeba Pritchard Kenneth R Reed AM Andrew Thyne Reid Charitable Trust Thyne Reid Trust No 1 John B Reid AO and Lynn Rainbow Reid Patricia H Reid Endowment Pty Ltd Renaissance Tours In memory of Lilian Renard Michael Rennie David and Gillian Ritchie Juliana Schaeffer In memory of Clare Scott-Mitchell Eddie Scuderi Penelope Seidler AM Servcorp
The Hon Warwick L Smith AM and Mrs Kathryn Joy Smith Suzanne and Peter Steigrad James and Jeanne-Claude Strong John and Jo Strutt Antony and Josephine Sukkar Simon Swaney and Carolyn Kay Dr Hugh and Mrs Elfie Taylor Jill Thorpe Robert Tobias OAM Michael Traill AM and Jenny Gage Traill Kevin Troy Michael Troy Professor Barbara van Ernst AM Isaac and Susie Wakil Maureen Wheeler AO A D White Lyn Williams AM C R Wilshire Ray Wilson OAM and the late James Agapitos OAM Jill Wran Dr Anna Ziegler Anonymous (19)
Bequests You can make a lasting contribution to the future of opera in Australia by making a bequest to the Opera Australia Capital Fund. Your bequest will provide financial security to enhance Opera Australia’s artistic achievements and outreach programs. The Company is enormously grateful for the support it has received through bequests from the estates of:-
Mrs Diana Chapman David Clarke AO Ruth Davidson Dame Joyce Margaretta Daws DBE Mrs Leslie Feather Ms Wendy Fenson Mr Jonathon Greening Mrs Nola J Hassall
Mrs Elise Herrman Irwin Imhof Mr G H Johnson for the George and Nerissa Johnson Memorial Scholarship Mr Stefan Kruger Miss Patricia Lance Barbara McNulty OBE
Ivy Marshall Mr Will Noble Dimiter Kanev Stantchev Dr Dawn Thew Mrs Nancy Williamson Dr Donald Wilson Betty Wright Mr Gerald Sidney Wronker
If you wish to discuss either a donation to the Capital Fund or your bequest hopes, please contact Neroli Hobbins in Sydney on 02 9318 8386 or Sally Percival in Melbourne on 03 9685 3761.
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Opera Australia Activities Attendances and Box Office 2015
OPERA AUSTRALIA ACTIVITIES ATTENDANCES AND BOX OFFICE 2015 Season In-theatre Sydney Summer Sydney Opera House
Melbourne Autumn Arts Centre Melbourne
Sydney Winter Sydney Opera House
Melbourne Spring Arts Centre Melbourne
Opera
Composer
La Bohème The Magic Flute Tosca Madama Butterfly Faust (NP, Op Conf)
Puccini Mozart Puccini Puccini Gounod
7 11 19 23 9 69
Madama Butterfly Don Giovanni Don Carlos
Puccini Mozart Verdi
8 8 5 21
Turandot La Traviata Don Carlos The Marriage of Figaro (NP)
The Marriage of Figaro The Elixir of Love
Puccini Verdi Verdi Mozart
Mozart Donizetti
Performances
Venues
77,818
30,345
78,030
36,731
Box office ($) 2015 2014
10,231,606
3,812,912
10,363,333
4,239,924
18 9 9 15 51
61,763
50,419
9,127,062
7,065,513
8 4
2016 Sydney Summer * Sydney Opera House
The Magic Flute
Mozart
1 1
Sydney New Years Eve Sydney Opera House
La Bohème
Puccini
1 1
17,313
23,934
1,421
1,442
2,079,110
2,764,519
152,340
1,422
487,223
1 1
Various
1 3
3
31,000
24,500
Hansel and Gretel La Cenerentola
Humperdinck Rossini
127 257
117 171
The Magic Flute
Mozart
17 401
17 305
85,422
85,746
770,251
1,144,813
6 4 10
2
1,774
7,126
26,799
405,300
764
313
513,655
649,443
2
10,713
Behind the Scenes Behind the Scenes
Total Admissions - All Activities (excluding The Rabbits) The Rabbits - presented by Perth International Arts Festival & Melbourne Festival: Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre, The Rabbits Kate Miller-Heidke Perth Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne The Rabbits Kate Miller-Heidke The Rabbits subtotal
9 8 17
477,198
155
2
190,102
190,536
25,890,255
24,910,487
Anything Goes Anything Goes Anything Goes
Cole Porter Cole Porter Cole Porter
63 27 67 157
3
136,641
281,088
14,486,228
31,982,048
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Sydney Opera on Sydney Harbour subtotal
Aida (NP)
Verdi
25 25
1
55,011
39,208
8,643,205
5,959,978
Concerts Sydney Opera House Sydney Opera House Concerts Subtotal
Great Opera Hits New Year's Eve Gala
Various Various
12 1 13
1
13,705
21,239
1,578,505
2,919,284
6
395,459
532,071
50,598,193
65,771,797
350
Touring and Outreach Schools Tours: Victoria New South Wales Regional Tour: VIC, NSW, QLD, NT, WA Touring and Outreach subtotal
Various Various
NP = New Production * First performance of 2016 Summer Season on 30/12/15
Musical Theatre Princess Theatre, Melbourne Brisbane Lyric Theatre Sydney Opera House Musical Theatre subtotal
Total In-theatre/Music Theatre/ Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour/Concerts
Free Events Mazda Opera in the Domain Opera Highlights Concert Mazda Opera in the Bowl (Ft. Opera Australia Opera Highlights Concert Community Choirs) Western Sydney Community Choirs Concert Opera Highlights Concert Free Events subtotal
Other Events Arts Centre Melbourne Sydney Opera House Other Events subtotal
12
In-theatre Subtotal
Admissions 2015 2014
AR_OA activities2015_p1 Final
AR_OA activities2015_p1 Final
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Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Méphistophélès Faust
Opera Australia Thanks Its 2015 Partners Principal Partner
Official Car Sponsor
Hero Partners
Gold Partner
Silver Partners
Supporting Partners
Q U AY G R A N D S Y D N E Y H A R B O U R
Corporate Partners Bulgari Australia Gilbert + Tobin Jardine Lloyd Thompson
Top: Community Choirs perform in Parramatta Park Bottom: Schools Tour of Cinderella
iSentia Park Hyatt Sydney
For information about Corporate Partnerships with Opera Australia please contact Justine Tong on (02) 9318 8335 or
[email protected]
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Opera Australia Management Craig Hassall AM Chief Executive Lyndon Terracini AM Artistic Director Joe Martorana Chief Operating Officer Board of Directors David Mortimer AO Chairman Lesley Alway Anson Austin OAM Philip Bacon AM Virginia Braden OAM David Epstein Tim McFarlane Judith Stewart Josephine Sukkar Mary Waldron
Anthony Legge Associate Music Director
Alex Budd Executive Producer – Commercial and Community Loretta Busby Artistic Administrator Mahua Das Human Resources Director Liz Nield Executive Director, Philanthropy Sue Olden Business Planning Manager
ACN 000 755 153 ABN 26 000 755 153 The liability of the members of Opera Australia is limited. Incorporated in New South Wales in 1970, Opera Australia is an authority holder under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991. Sydney Office: The Opera Centre 480 Elizabeth Street Surry Hills, NSW 2010 Sydney Postal Address: PO Box 291, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012 Telephone: (02) 9699 1099
[email protected] Melbourne Office: Corner Fawkner and Fanning Streets, Southbank 3006 Melbourne Postal Address: PO Box 389, South Melbourne, Vic 3205 Telephone: (03) 9685 3777
[email protected]
Gérard Patacca General Manager, Orchestra John Rayment Technical Director Georgia Rivers Executive Producer – In Theatre Louisa Robertson Executive Producer – Major Projects
Government Partners
Opera Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and by the NSW Government through Arts NSW. Opera Australia is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.
Principal Partner
